I Hate to Say It, But,

[3KillerBs]

My hitherto trouble-free and well-behaved rooster, Rameses, who is about 16-months-old, was pushing at me and reluctant to yield when I walked through him yesterday afternoon and then, this morning, pecked me on the back of the boot while I was propping the coop door this morning.

I put him into submission then carried him around as I finishing the opening up process, giving him a lecture about how I had a broomstick and he has sons.

I understand that his hormones are rising with the lengthening days and he's got 3 sons in the pen just hitting puberty who might be making him antsy, but if he can't tell the difference between The Giant Who Brings Food and another rooster, well,

It would screw up my breeding plans for this spring but he's got 3 sons almost old enough and I've got eggs in the incubator.

I had planned on keeping him until I was done hatching this spring -- at which point I'd have been breeding him to his granddaughters -- and then selling him as a proven flockmaster with a couple hens as a breeding trio.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Chicken Math.


I'm certain you will make the right choice. Would be easier if the sons were a little older and easier to judge their promise though

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Personally, if he hasn't shown issues before, I would give him a third strike opportunity. I know it goes against what I usually preach, but it sounds like he's an older male that still hasn't latched on to or kicked out at people, and is starting to feel the season grow favorable. Now granted, that leaves room for a worse attack for the third strike, but I'm just not sure that's going to happen, honestly.

 

[LizzzyJo]

giving him a lecture about how I had a broomstick and he has sons.


“He had sons”!!!! Omg that sent me into chuckles this morning. I now know what you meant but I was thinking you were threatening him for the sake of his family. Good luck with him and I hope he shapes up! If not I hope his sons are good boys.

 

[Coops Dad]

My hitherto trouble-free and well-behaved rooster, Rameses, who is about 16-months-old, was pushing at me and reluctant to yield when I walked through him yesterday afternoon and then, this morning, pecked me on the back of the boot while I was propping the coop door this morning.

I put him into submission then carried him around as I finishing the opening up process, giving him a lecture about how I had a broomstick and he has sons.

I understand that his hormones are rising with the lengthening days and he's got 3 sons in the pen just hitting puberty who might be making him antsy, but if he can't tell the difference between The Giant Who Brings Food and another rooster, well,

It would screw up my breeding plans for this spring but he's got 3 sons almost old enough and I've got eggs in the incubator.

I had planned on keeping him until I was done hatching this spring -- at which point I'd have been breeding him to his granddaughters -- and then selling him as a proven flockmaster with a couple hens as a breeding trio.

I like the way you separate emotion from the equation and your awareness of need vs want. For the sake of your future plans, I hope Ramses gets his head straight.

 

[Perris]

pecked me on the back of the boot

are you sure this was aggressive and not a greeting peck on the cheek/bit he could reach?

 

[Sally PB]

Here's hoping he was just a bit ornery, and gets over it. Yeah, I'd give him another chance too. I really like this guy.

 

[Matejka]

Give it time, see if he regressives to sweet/tolerable or moves on to aggressive. He may have given a welcoming peck, or you have a spot I need to remove/eat...

 

[3KillerBs]

Personally, if he hasn't shown issues before, I would give him a third strike opportunity. I know it goes against what I usually preach, but it sounds like he's an older male that still hasn't latched on to or kicked out at people, and is starting to feel the season grow favorable. Now granted, that leaves room for a worse attack for the third strike, but I'm just not sure that's going to happen, honestly.

are you sure this was aggressive and not a greeting peck on the cheek/bit he could reach?

Give it time, see if he regressives to sweet/tolerable or moves on to aggressive. He may have given a welcoming peck, or you have a spot I need to remove/eat...

He'd been pushing boundaries yesterday too and it was a pretty hard hit.

I've told my family to stay out of the coop and run until this resolves, even though that robs me of my assistant on the days the arthritis is bad.

He's got until the next reasonably good-weather day I have off to shape up. Or, if he draws blood he's gone as soon as I can catch him.

 

[Sally PB]

He's got until the next reasonably good-weather day I have off to shape up. Or, if he draws blood he's gone as soon as I can catch him.

This is a good decision, IMO. I'd hate to see him go, but his fate is in his own hands beak.